The appeal to buy food in bulk has grown since the start of the Great Recession, because it is often cheaper for customers than buying smaller packaged amounts, said Pat Fitzpatrick, a consultant with Atlanta Retail Consulting.

"Bulk food attracts a certain category of shopper and that category is growing," Fitzpatrick said. "The savings are significant and it's attractive to those who want to be environmentally conscious because there is less packaging involved."

A 2012 study found that shoppers can save up to 89 percent by buying foods in bulk food aisles of grocery stores, according to the Portland State University's Food Industry Leadership Center.

Fitzpatrick estimates the bulk food category has grown by 10 percent to 12 percent each year since 2007. Even before then, big box retailers such as Sam's Club, BJ's Wholesale Club and Costco Warehouse Club prompted consumers to consider buying items in quantities.

But now, bulk-specific stores are opening to meet the growing demand.

In Sarasota, Bulk Nation is the latest to feature an expanded selection of food that can be bought by the pound at discounted rates.

Shoppers buy food by scooping as much as desired into bags and pay by weight.

"We're the opposite of something like Costco or Sam's Club in that you can buy as little as you want," said owner Clay Donato, a Sarasota resident. "There's a significant price advantage to purchasing this way over how much you get and pay for in a packaged form. We've gotten great customer feedback so far."

The store opened its doors quietly nearly four weeks ago, but hosted a grand opening celebration last week.

"Most of the customers you see who buy in bulk are families and small business owners," Fitzpatrick said. "But the way you can buy now is changing, and is attracting a different kind of customer as well."

In the last year, the Sarasota-Bradenton region has attracted a number of chains that specialize in selling food in bulk sizes.

Costco made its debut at the Sarasota Square Mall in August. Shoppers there lined up across the parking lot for its grand opening.

While the chain is also known for selling high-end luxury goods and foods such as steaks, wine, seafood and electronics, Costco has also become popular for offering competitive prices.

Gordon Food Service, the largest privately held food service distributor in North America that specializes in bulk foods and delivery, plans to open its second GFS Marketplace store in Sarasota later this year. The company will open a 12,600-square-foot store in a former Sound Advice store at 6307 S. Tamiami Trail, near Stickney Point Road.

"We mainly service the needs of restaurants, caterers, churches and some small businesses, but all of our stores are open to the public," said Mark Dempsey, a GFS spokesman.

Expanded offerings

While some grocery stores have had bulk food sections previously, chains like Whole Foods Market and Publix have expanded sections to include more offerings in recent years.

"We have offered bulk foods at Publix for about 20 years, but recently, within the past five years, we have almost doubled the amount of bulk food offerings and the number of stores that carry these items," said Publix spokeswoman Shannon Patten. "We have seen a big increase in the number of customers purchasing these items."

"A lot of our shoppers in Sarasota buy bulk for portion control," she said, noting that Whole Foods offers more than 240 bulk food times in six departments in the store. "Our section has grown over the years to meet the growing demand we see from our shoppers, both those that want to buy smaller portions and business owners that buy in large quantities."

Not every chain has adopted bulk foods as a way to boost sales, however.

"We stopped carrying bulk food items a few years ago. Sanitation and food handling was -- and still is -- a growing concern for us, and we found that the bulk food items we offered would be better suited sold packaged on our shelves," said Sweetbay spokeswoman Nicole LeBeau.

<p><em>SARASOTA</em> - Responding to customers' desire for value despite incremental economic improvement, grocery and specialty stores in Southwest Florida and beyond are increasingly offering nonperishable foods in bulk.</p><p>The appeal to buy food in bulk has grown since the start of the Great Recession, because it is often cheaper for customers than buying smaller packaged amounts, said Pat Fitzpatrick, a consultant with Atlanta Retail Consulting.</p><p>"Bulk food attracts a certain category of shopper and that category is growing," Fitzpatrick said. "The savings are significant and it's attractive to those who want to be environmentally conscious because there is less packaging involved."</p><p>A 2012 study found that shoppers can save up to 89 percent by buying foods in bulk food aisles of grocery stores, according to the Portland State University's Food Industry Leadership Center.</p><p>Fitzpatrick estimates the bulk food category has grown by 10 percent to 12 percent each year since 2007. Even before then, big box retailers such as Sam's Club, BJ's Wholesale Club and Costco Warehouse Club prompted consumers to consider buying items in quantities.</p><p>But now, bulk-specific stores are opening to meet the growing demand.</p><p>In Sarasota, Bulk Nation is the latest to feature an expanded selection of food that can be bought by the pound at discounted rates.</p><p>The 4,100-square-foot store, at 4039 S. Tamiami Trail, sells an assortment of flour, candy, nuts, coffees, ground peanut butter and pasta, among other items.</p><p>Shoppers buy food by scooping as much as desired into bags and pay by weight.</p><p>"We're the opposite of something like Costco or Sam's Club in that you can buy as little as you want," said owner Clay Donato, a Sarasota resident. "There's a significant price advantage to purchasing this way over how much you get and pay for in a packaged form. We've gotten great customer feedback so far."</p><p>The store opened its doors quietly nearly four weeks ago, but hosted a grand opening celebration last week.</p><p>"Most of the customers you see who buy in bulk are families and small business owners," Fitzpatrick said. "But the way you can buy now is changing, and is attracting a different kind of customer as well."</p><p>In the last year, the Sarasota-Bradenton region has attracted a number of chains that specialize in selling food in bulk sizes.</p><p>Costco made its debut at the Sarasota Square Mall in August. Shoppers there lined up across the parking lot for its grand opening.</p><p>While the chain is also known for selling high-end luxury goods and foods such as steaks, wine, seafood and electronics, Costco has also become popular for offering competitive prices.</p><p>Gordon Food Service, the largest privately held food service distributor in North America that specializes in bulk foods and delivery, plans to open its second GFS Marketplace store in Sarasota later this year. The company will open a 12,600-square-foot store in a former Sound Advice store at 6307 S. Tamiami Trail, near Stickney Point Road.</p><p>"We mainly service the needs of restaurants, caterers, churches and some small businesses, but all of our stores are open to the public," said Mark Dempsey, a GFS spokesman.</p><p>Expanded offerings</p><p>While some grocery stores have had bulk food sections previously, chains like Whole Foods Market and Publix have expanded sections to include more offerings in recent years.</p><p>"We have offered bulk foods at Publix for about 20 years, but recently, within the past five years, we have almost doubled the amount of bulk food offerings and the number of stores that carry these items," said Publix spokeswoman Shannon Patten. "We have seen a big increase in the number of customers purchasing these items."</p><p>The appeal goes beyond price comparison and green initiatives, said Nikki Logan, marketing director for Sarasota's Whole Foods.</p><p>"A lot of our shoppers in Sarasota buy bulk for portion control," she said, noting that Whole Foods offers more than 240 bulk food times in six departments in the store. "Our section has grown over the years to meet the growing demand we see from our shoppers, both those that want to buy smaller portions and business owners that buy in large quantities."</p><p>Not every chain has adopted bulk foods as a way to boost sales, however.</p><p>Tampa-based Sweetbay Supermarkets discontinued its bulk food offerings after issues arose.</p><p>"We stopped carrying bulk food items a few years ago. Sanitation and food handling was -- and still is -- a growing concern for us, and we found that the bulk food items we offered would be better suited sold packaged on our shelves," said Sweetbay spokeswoman Nicole LeBeau.</p><p><empty></p><p><empty></p>